Holbrook

History

Holbrook was first settled by Europeans (mostly British colonists) in 1710 as the southern part of Old Braintree, and was officially incorporated on February 29, 1872, the last town created from the former lands of Braintree. It used to be known as East Randolph, being divided from Randolph by track from the Old Colony Railroad line. In the 18th and 19th centuries, farming and cottage trades, particularly shoe production, dominated the economy. Slowly, the town evolved into a primarily residential community, with many residents commuting to work in Boston proper and the primary employment within the town being in service industries. Some residents served during the Civil War, and members of the famed 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry are buried in Union Cemetery. The impact of the War came not only from the residents' direct participation in the conflict, but was also from the need for production of boots for soldiers. It was during the Civil War that shoe production became a significant component of the town's economic life, and production moved decidedly from the home and into factories. The story of Holbrook's split from Randolph begins in 1871, when pressure had been building in East Randolph for an independent town. After a little "misunderstanding" (according to Randolph brethren, the Eastern group used rather stronger language) about the placement of a cupola on top of Stetson Hall as a vent for the gas lighting, the pot boiled over, and East Randolph petitioned to be incorporated as a separate town. The town was named for benefactor Elisha N. Holbrook, who provided the town with the funds for the town hall and library upon incorporation. Holbrook's residents again took up arms in the First and Second World Wars. The latter had a great impact on…

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 7.4 square miles (19.2 km2), of which 7.3 square miles (19.0 km2) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.1 km2) (0.69%) is water. Holbrook borders Braintree to the north, Weymouth to the east, Abington to the southeast, Brockton to the southwest, Randolph and Avon to the west.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  43,641
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  42,806
• Black-capped Chickadee

  Poecile atricapillus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  40,312
• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  39,996
• Song Sparrow

  Melospiza melodia (A.Wilson, 1810) · Aves
  35,584
• Tufted Titmouse

  Baeolophus bicolor (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  34,101
• American Goldfinch

  Spinus tristis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  30,107
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  29,517

Largest nearby schools

• Weymouth High School
  High · Weymouth · 1,807 students · 12.6:1 ratio
• Braintree High
  High · Braintree · 1,706 students · 15.4:1 ratio
• Quincy High
  High · Quincy · 1,495 students · 13:1 ratio
• North Quincy High
  High · Quincy · 1,476 students · 15.7:1 ratio
• Sharon High
  High · Sharon · 1,143 students · 11.4:1 ratio
• Stoughton High
  High · Stoughton · 1,073 students · 10.5:1 ratio
• Milton High
  High · Milton · 1,062 students · 13:1 ratio
• East Middle School
  Middle · Braintree · 971 students · 12.6:1 ratio

Most recent

• M 3.6 — 2020-11-08
  10 km S of Bliss Corner, Massachusetts
• M 2.7 — 2018-02-15
  0 km SE of East Kingston, New Hampshire
• M 2.6 — 2015-01-13
  2 km E of Wauregan, Connecticut
• M 3.3 — 2015-01-12
  0 km NE of Wauregan, Connecticut
• M 2.5 — 2007-10-19
  2 km WSW of Littleton Common, Massachusetts
• M 2.5 — 2005-11-17
  4 km S of Plymouth, Massachusetts